Native Son (2019) Movie Script
1
WYATT CENAC: If you could remake
public education
in this country,
how would you do it?
MAN: That's hard.
CENAC:
Yeah, it's a great question.
-Yeah.
-That's what I do.
-(LAUGHS) That's what you do?
-Yeah.
(FUNK MUSIC PLAYS)
How do you give kids a fair
and equitable education?
Smaller class sizes...
sex ed... goat yoga.
Right, okay.
When you make
a high school curriculum,
what's that look like?
Just people who can think
outside the box.
Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
You're my only hope.
(MUSIC CONTINUES, FADES)
( traffic flows )
( birds chirping )
BIG: Early mornin'
I got the whole world
to myself.
I don't need no alarm clock
to wake me up.
( birds caw )
Morning, Walter.
( urine flows )
( toilet flushes )
( sighs )
I'm doing my class
presentation today.
That don't mean you
gotta spend all morning in
the bathroom putting on makeup.
So how else am I supposed
to look nice?
Big, you be quick,
all right?
Go in my room
and get dressed.
And you can wear a pair
of my shoes if you want.
Thanks, Mom.
Only not the red ones.
Thank you, Lord, for the food
we're about to receive.
Get the hell outta here!
- Shit! Fuck!
- ( all screaming )
Big, go get it!
He's under here,
right under the thing!
Oh, shoot, Big,
he's over there,
he's over there!
Hey, not my books,
Big, come on!
TRUDY: Buddy,
go get the skillet.
He's gonna bite you,
Big, watch out!
- TRUDY: Be careful!
- No, he ain't scared none.
Don't get too close, Big.
- ( Buddy shouting )
- Hey, yo, Buddy, hurry up.
- He's gonna bite you!
- Hurry up, hurry up!
Here, take it, take it,
take it! Take it!
( all scream )
( awed groans )
TRUDY: Finally got
that motherfucker.
Huh?
( all screaming )
Put it in the trash!
SISTER: Ooh!
And wash your hands!
You wash your hands?
Yeah.
Big.
Be careful.
( clicks tongue )
( cat meows )
BIG: Hey. Hey.
( cat meows )
Hey.
Hey.
( clicks tongue )
( cat meows )
Hey. Hey, hey.
Hey. ( sniffs )
Hey.
Hey.
( sniffs )
( cat meows )
You all are just a bunch
of scrawny good-for-nothings.
Shiftless no-accounts
waiting for a handout.
VOCALIST:
One, two, three, now!
BIG: Makin' somethin'
of myself.
I got shit goin' on.
I make my move when I decide on
what my move is gonna be.
I can't be jumpin'
at just anything.
That'd be stupid.
I ain't stupid.
VOCALIST: They could
care less about you
They could care
less about me
As long as they
are to end
The place that
they want to be
They're always wearing
false smiles
I guess it
goes with the style
Politicians in my eyes
Always trying to be slick
When they tell us the lies
They're responsible for
sending young men to die
We have waited so long
For someone to come along
And correct
our country's law
But the wait's
been too long
BIG: There's plenty
of things I could do.
Plenty of things.
Plenty of things
I could be good at.
Great at, even.
( classical music playing )
Hey.
You taking me out tonight?
Told you I would.
Mmm... but I don't
dance enough.
You don't, eh?
( soft chuckle )
How many hairstyles
you gotta do today?
Just one,
but it's elaborate.
Is that for me?
Mm-hmm.
No, that's for my boss.
I gotta deliver it for him.
He been cheating
on his wife again?
Shit, you know it.
( soft chuckle )
Job opportunity?
It's probably
just some bullshit.
- ( clears throat )
- Maybe not.
She talking about
she wants me
to come home later tonight
to tell me about it.
Well, I'm telling her
that I'm coming.
That'll make her day.
I could use
some perfume, though.
( soft chuckle )
( telephone rings )
Yo.
Yeah, hey.
Yeah, I did it.
Rang her doorbell
and everything.
She didn't answer, so I
just left it on the front porch.
Yeah.
I hope that's cool.
All right, cool.
Bye.
( soft snickers )
You're crazy as hell.
Yeah? So what?
Thank you.
No sweat.
( classical music playing )
BIG: They're hurrying around
like a bunch of rats.
And they're all blind,
thinking they're
in a groove, but...
living in a rut.
- What's up, bro?
- What's up?
For one, the fuckin' glasses
always be foggin' up.
So get you some eye surgery.
'Cause then you have,
like, twenty-twenty.
( soft chuckle )
Figure I do that shit,
I'm getting
my pilot's license.
I mean, yeah, though,
all that shit for real.
Free like a bird.
You know?
In it and of it...
flying high and above it.
GUS: You should come
work for me, man.
BIG: I'm all right.
Just saying, Big,
I pay twice as much
as what
that messenger job...
A'ight, Gus.
...delivering damn
envelopes and shit.
I don't need a job, a'ight?
What I need is
my motherfuckin' weed, nigga.
( laughter )
- I got you.
- A'ight?
I got you.
Voila.
Now, you sure you don't
want nothing but weed?
'Cause I got...
shit, I got "E,"
"F," "G," "H," "I,"
the alphabet
in this motherfucker.
I am positive, bro.
A'ight.
Yeah, that's about it.
( muffled remark )
Respect.
GUS: Still carrying
that pistol, huh?
Yeah.
It was my Pop's.
You know all that shit, bro.
Don't mean
you gotta carry it.
( soft chuckle )
Yeah, man, you gotta reframe
your whole worldview, man.
See, people are
motivated by love.
Or people
are motivated by fear.
But your hair...
that's smooth right there.
It's green.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
that's the, um...
that's that color,
"Army issue."
( laughter )
VOCALIST: Hey
hey hey hey hey
Police and thieves
in the street
Oh, yeah
Fighting the nation
with their...
( music playing overhead )
Hey, yo, what's up?
You guys have that
Bad Rage vinyl?
Right here, man.
How much is that?
This, man? There's one
in the Smithsonian.
( soft chuckle )
MAN: So, you in or what?
I don't know, Jack.
Man, what you mean
you don't know, man?
It's easy money.
I don't know.
Listen,
I got all the details
worked out.
Old Blum ain't got nobody
in the store, ten a.m.
Everybody gone wherever,
everybody picked up they
newspapers and all that.
Cops don't circle back
until 10:30,
so that gives us thirty
whole minutes to hit that shit.
( Big clears throat )
You tryin' to rob
a corner store at gunpoint?
I'm sorry,
I'm not interested
in being a part of some
least common denominator
stereotypical Negro shit.
You ain't gotta
call it that, man.
Well, that's
what it is, though.
Look, this ain't
a nickel-and-dime robbery.
I got all the details
worked out, bro, trust me.
I'll think about it,
all right?
( scoffs )
MAN: Get off
the fuckin' stage!
( movie dialogue plays )
TONY: Uh, excuse me,
do you guys have tickets?
( snickering )
- Tony. Bullshit.
- You all right, Tony.
Yo, Tony, want to hear about
how we gon' hit Blum's?
TONY: Not right now, man.
BIG: Yeah,
I hear that shit.
Y'all niggas always talk about
how you want something to do,
and now I got something.
MOVIE ACTOR: Anybody
can tell you that don't
add up to a dollar.
BIG: Nigga, shut
the fuck up and watch
the fuckin' movie, bro.
Fuck y'all niggas, man.
( distant dog barks )
So, Big, what kind
of music you into?
You like that hip-hop?
What is it?
Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie or Tupac?
- ( soft chuckle )
- I like Kanye.
TRUDY: Marty was asking Big.
None of the above, man.
What about sports?
The Bulls?
You know, I know a guy
that can get me some tickets.
Maybe it'd be nice if the two
of us go to a game sometime.
No, you know, sports
were more like, uh,
( clears throat )
my dad's thing.
Know?
Right?
Yeah, more like
a dad thing.
Y'all two getting serious?
Your mother's
a wonderful woman.
As the three of you know.
Marty thinks I should
go to law school.
You're a great paralegal.
You should take the next step.
So y'all will both be lawyers.
Yeah, well, not all
lawyers make the big bucks.
I mostly work with the non-
profits, that kind of thing.
Tell him about the job, hon.
( Big slurps loudly )
It's an excellent opportunity.
What is it, office work?
One of our biggest clients
is looking for a new driver.
That sounds so boring.
That's 'cause you
don't drive, stupid.
Who's the client?
Will Dalton.
He owns, like, every
building in the city.
And he's had the same driver
for twenty years.
Sounds like a great job,
good pay.
Full benefits package.
So, you interested
in the job, son?
I don't know.
I mean, I--
It's not mine yet.
I still gotta...
go in and do the interview
and all of that.
So, is the interview
at the Dalton Building?
No, it's at his home office.
I'll think about it.
BIG: New game.
Same old rules.
Brand-new game.
Same old shit.
What was that--
the only thing
I remember from school--
"panem et circenses."
Bread and circus.
Keep them fed
and entertained and stupid,
and, that way, you can
keep them where you want them.
You and Big serious?
We together.
You should be with someone
who's got more going on.
What, like you and Gus?
Yeah. Gus has got a future.
Big's cool and all,
but... he's more like
a fixer-upper.
He's a wild card,
and he don't need fixin'.
When they made Big,
they broke the mold.
( laughs )
( indistinct friendly chatter )
Hey, y'all know that
up there is me, right?
How you doin'?
Who is that?
( soft laughter )
Mnh-mnh. White girls
like poodles.
They go to bed with anybody.
Is you gon' look at her
all night?
Mm-mmm.
Shit, I'd rather be
lookin' at you, baby.
Well, you weren't.
Hey...
It's me and you, all right?
( passionate moans )
BIG: Oh, fuck.
Hey, look,
I'm telling you,
Blum's store is
a cash-only business.
And they got
money in the till
ripe for the taking.
I mean, and it'd give us
a way to prove ourselves.
TONY: We ain't
in high school no more, man.
I mean, shit, I got a son
I gotta take care of
and a job I gotta do,
every day.
JACK: Suit yourself.
Big?
What's Gus say?
Got "A," got "B,"
got "E."
Shit, I got the whole
damn alphabet.
( both chuckle )
Yeah, I don't know.
I don't think Gus is in.
Yeah, that's 'cause Gus
don't need the opportunity.
Just me, you, Big.
You got it all planned out?
Man, it's like we practically
already done it.
Yeah, home...
I don't know, bro.
Know, it-- it ain't for me.
Yeah.
You don't want
to nothin' authentic.
Instead of looking
and acting like a real brother,
you have to run around
fronting like a fucking clown.
I'll meet you whenever...
and rob whatever.
Name the time and place.
Next Tuesday,
a week from today,
ten in the morning.
Done.
BESSIE: You really gon'
rob that store with Jack?
BIG: I told him I would.
Hey.
You want me
to stay the night?
Maybe tomorrow night.
What about that job offer
from your mom?
What about it?
( music playing )
VOCALIST: Everybody's
still got a veto
And everybody's
still got the power
Everybody's
still got a veto
And everybody's
still got the power
For the blind people
For the blind people
Every man and woman
is learning how to fight
Babies are learning
how to shout
Black power
Black power
Some countries in Africa
got it quite all right
What's there to stop
every other one
From black power?
From black power?
Yeah, we want power...
( doorbell rings )
( footsteps approach )
You must be the Thomas boy.
Yes, ma'am.
I'm Peggy, come in.
Thanks.
You'll get used to it.
Wait here.
All right.
You can sit down.
OK.
( footsteps approach )
Great of you
to come by this morning.
- Will Dalton.
- Um, thank you for
having me, sir.
No "sir," just Dalton.
Thank you for having me,
Mr. Dalton.
You can come on this way.
All right.
So, you all been
living here a long time?
WILL: The house has been
in the family for generations.
Is everything OK?
I wanted to meet
our new driver.
Mr. Thomas, meet my beautiful
young wife, Mrs. Dalton.
It's a pleasure.
Did you find
the house all right?
Yeah.
Yes. Yes, ma'am.
You didn't get lost.
Not at all, ma'am.
Marty says you are
a wonderful young man.
Do you enjoy driving?
Very much, ma'am.
Well, it's settled, then.
Let's head into my office.
It's a pleasure
having you in our home.
Nice to meet you.
( Will chuckles softly )
She hasn't always been blind.
Hmm.
Have a seat.
No computer?
I'm a total Luddite.
I feel that.
I prefer, uh,
cassettes to CDs.
We're on the same page.
( soft chuckle )
Yeah.
- Your resume?
- Yes. Uh...
It's not really...
up to date.
Ah, that's fine.
Marty says you're a good guy.
So, my security guy,
he insists that I do
a thorough background check.
( soft chuckle )
OK.
Clean record.
( soft chuckle )
Well, yeah.
You're a good driver?
The best.
I-I've never even
run a red light.
That's what they say.
Your first name is Bigger.
Yeah. Uh,
my friends call me Big.
- Not Biggie?
- After Biggie Smalls? Nah.
Good, seeing how
Christopher Wallace
came to a difficult end.
( soft chuckle )
Are you nearsighted
or farsighted?
I wear them for driving,
but, uh, they're not strong.
They're just to...
make things...
Clearer. Right.
Right.
No, sit down.
So, you'll have a room
here, on the top floor
of the house.
You'll have your meals
here too, of course.
Right.
You'll make a thousand
dollars a week.
( chuckles )
You got any questions
so far?
None at all.
I'm usually at the office
by eight a.m.
Then you'll be on duty
to take Miss Dalton,
our daughter,
to the university.
Her class schedule,
it varies.
But during the day,
should Mrs. Dalton
want to go out,
you'll take her.
Think you can handle
all that?
Yeah.
One question:
You guys want me
to cut my hair?
It's fine just as it is.
Is that good?
Yeah.
Job is yours, Bigger.
Great.
Mr. Greene,
our last driver,
he did very well here.
We hope you will too.
I plan to.
MARY: Dad?
Mom said you were
interviewing.
I already hired him.
Bigger Thomas,
this is my daughter Mary.
Hi.
Hey.
I think
I saw you on the news.
What?
( giggles ) It's for
the kids charity event, Dad.
- Alex.
- OK.
Last year, I, um,
made page six
when I took my boyfriend
Jan to Havana.
WILL: We were worried.
But it was all good
in the end, right?
Yeah, you could
say that.
WILL: Let's go
find Peggy.
Cool.
So, uh, your name
is Bigger?
Uh, yeah, yeah.
My friends call me Big.
Your hair is rad.
( chuckles )
Thanks.
Do you ever go to,
um, Animal?
Um, yeah, yeah,
sometimes.
So crazy, all the political
stuff that's going on
these days, right?
WILL: Mary,
I don't think Bigger
wants to talk about--
Sure he does.
Dad hates it when I talk
about Occupy
or the Peoples Movement,
but, I mean, you probably
march, right?
Well...
MARY: I hear you,
I hear you.
Folks work
a nine-to-five job
don't really have time
to be at all the rallies.
But you're outraged,
aren't you?
Yeah.
Sure.
See, Dad?
He's outraged.
Unlike you because you're
a damn capitalist.
- ( Will laughs )
- You're outraged,
as you should be.
I'm just happy
to have this job.
I, uh,
I have class tonight.
You gonna take me?
We haven't worked out
his start date yet.
Let him start tonight.
Yeah, I can-- I can--
I can start tonight.
Is that cool?
Yeah, that's--
that's fine.
Cool. OK.
- Bye.
- Love you.
- You too.
- See you.
It's nice--
For years,
we have been staunch
supporters of the NAACP.
Mary, instead
of pointing out
the good I'm doing,
delights in pointing out
my faults.
( chuckles )
Well, I think you're doing
a pretty good job, sir.
I appreciate you saying that.
PEGGY: This is your room.
BIG: OK.
PEGGY: Look, you get
southern exposure,
so it will always be
nice and bright.
We're changing the sheets
once a week.
- OK.
- And you've got Wi-Fi.
Great.
You and I will always use
these back stairs here
so that they can
have their privacy, and,
quite frankly, so can we.
Cool.
You know, after you've
been working here for a while,
you might have a lady friend
whom you'd like to invite
over sometime.
( soft chuckle )
I think a place like this
needs security cameras,
but Mr. Dalton thinks
heightened security
means heightened crime.
So, this is the furnace.
You'll be in charge
of loading this monster.
It heats the house
adequately, but it's
a clunky old thing.
Still takes coal.
I tell Mr. Dalton,
let's get something
more green, but...
maybe you'll be able
to convince him.
Until then, you'll be
loading this dinosaur
twice a day,
and each night
before you go to bed,
you have
to clean out the ashes.
All clear?
All right.
Good.
Can I touch your hair?
I'm kidding.
( popping tongue )
Wanna turn the radio on?
Sure.
Shit. ( grunts )
( hip-hop music playing )
You like this music?
Yeah, it's--
it's cool.
What do you listen to?
Well, if you
really want to know,
sometimes, uh...
this.
( death metal music playing )
It's pretty cool.
Then, uh...
sometimes
I look for this.
( classical music playing )
OK.
It's all perspective.
Well, rest assured,
you and my dad are gonna
get along just great.
I thought you were
going to class?
Just meeting some friends.
You wanna come in?
Nah, I'm good. I think
I should probably stay
with the car.
No, you should come in,
but, um... I get it.
OK. Stay warm.
All right.
( sighs )
( indistinct chatter )
( muffled speech )
( muffled speech )
WOMAN: Bye.
MARY: See ya.
JAN: Big?
Hey.
You're Jan.
How'd you know?
Stuff I read online.
Don't believe everything
you read about Jan.
There's a lot of
fake news out there.
Hey, can I drive?
Aw, don't
worry about it,
Big, it's cool.
JAN: Cool.
Everybody in?
Where should we go?
I'm starving.
Are you hungry, Big?
Uh, I'm all right.
Yo, how 'bout a place
in your neighborhood, Big?
You know...
where you can get
some real food.
MARY: What about B and G's?
Let's go to B and G's, yeah?
JAN: Sounds good.
I don't... I don't think y'all
want to go to B and G's.
It's on Juneway Terrace
and Howard.
Hey, maybe Big
doesn't want to go.
It'll be fun.
Come on, guys,
it'll be my treat.
All right, let's...
let's go to B and G's.
JAN: All right.
Let's go.
( Mary speaks indistinctly )
( music playing )
MARY: Thank you.
JAN: Uh, can we get
a bottle of vodka?
JAN: Thank you.
Yo, why is Big with them?
I don't know.
He's supposed to be at work.
Hmm.
It don't look like
he at work.
This place is nice.
Mm-hmm.
Hey, Big.
Hey, Lily.
Look, I'm sure
he ain't with her,
a'ight? He's with them.
If he's working,
then why is he
sitting with them?
I don't know.
JASMINE: Bess.
BESSIE: I'm-a be cool.
JASMINE: A'ight.
Hey.
I thought you was at work.
I am.
Um, I'm Jan.
I'm Mary. Hi.
Nice job.
Yeah, it's all right.
I didn't catch your name.
Sorry, what's your name?
Uh, this is Bessie.
Bessie, if you want
to sit down, there's
plenty of room.
No. I'm already
sitting over there.
I'll go back to my place.
Hey, you wanna--
you wanna meet up later?
You want one?
Yeah, all right.
JAN:
That your girlfriend?
Yep.
Jan and I are, um,
engaged.
But please don't
tell my dad
because he'll
lose his mind.
Your dad seems all right.
Yeah...
if you like One-Percenters.
It's all the same shit
to me.
I grew up in Los Angeles--
well, outside of Los Angeles.
My, uh, folks split up.
Me and my mom, we, uh...
scraped by.
My dad, he was
an accountant, you know?
One day he just...
dropped dead.
Uh...
So sorry.
No, it's all good.
How long?
'Bout six or seven
years ago.
I live in such
an "affluenza" bubble,
and...
I've no idea...
about what, like,
black people actually think
about what's going on
in the world right now.
Well, I'll be sure
to mention that
at our next black meeting.
( both chuckling )
- JAN: Good night.
- MARY: Good night.
BIG: Let me
ask you a question.
MARY: Mmm?
The driver before me,
Greene,
he used to take you
wherever you wanted to go, huh?
Mnh-mnh.
( chuckles )
No, he was, uh,
straight as an arrow,
super square,
no fun ever.
No, he was all right,
though. He, um...
He went to night school,
he got his degree
in business.
Moving on up.
( chuckling )
My parents are
very proud of him.
( distant dog barks )
MARY: That's a lot of stairs.
Help me.
You can make it up.
MARY: Here's the thing, Mom--
I'm fine to go to church,
so long as you can
recognize that
religion is the opiate
of the masses.
OK.
I think it is lovely
that we are attending church
and giving thanks.
MARY: It is, it is,
it's lovely.
Thank you.
Thank you, Jesus.
( bells tolling )
WILL: I could use
a week of rain,
just listening to you read.
You're gonna read me
another chapter, aren't you?
MRS. DALTON: Mmm...
"I looked at him eagerly
when he looked at me,
and slightly moved my hands
and shook my head.
I had been waiting for him
to see me,
that I might try to assure him
of my innocence.
It was not at all
expressed to me
that he even comprehended
my intention,
for he gave me a look
that I did not understand,
and it all passed
in a moment."
( soft chuckle )
So fantastic.
( traffic flows )
( punk rock music playing )
( indistinct voices )
( symphonic music rises )
( symphonic music plays
on radio )
I love Beethoven.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I love him too.
All right.
WILL: So, you can
borrow the car
anytime you like.
BIG: Yeah?
WILL: Take your
girl out for a spin,
or something.
BIG: Yeah, uh, maybe.
VOCALIST:
Hey, wait, look, huh
( overlapping laughter
and chatter )
( vocalist continues singing )
JACK: Hey, babe,
bring me water.
I didn't do the job
because you didn't show.
Nigga, don't be casting
your fucking anxieties on me.
Got yourself a new job
and you lost your nuts, huh?
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Don't go there, big dawg.
I'll go wherever
the fuck I want.
Better watch yourself.
Big'll put you
out on the street,
your ass gon' be
walkin' home.
( laughter )
Ha ha ha ha.
Nigga ain't interested
in a real job.
He's too busy working
for the white folk.
Yeah.
You a house nigger now.
Hey, fuck you, nigga.
No, fuck you.
Living in a big house.
You aren't a nigga no more,
are you... nigga?
He never even
really was one.
Yeah, you a lame-ass
pussy Oreo for damn sure.
( Jack groans )
Fuck!
Yo, Big, come on!
Come on, Big,
get off him!
What the fuck, man?
No, no, no, no, no!
Black enough for your
motherfuckin' ' ass now, nigga?
Chill, chill.
- Man, fuck you, Big!
- No, no, no, no, no.
You hit me?
Get the fuck off me!
Look at me, baby,
look at me, look at me.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
'Sup?
Can I help you
with something?
My name is Greene.
You must be Bigger.
Yeah.
So, what, you here to
take your old job back?
( chuckles )
No, young man,
I'm happy where I'm at.
Mr. Dalton says
you workin' out all right.
I am.
Still got both your
feet on the ground?
Shit, you see me
standing here?
Good man.
Keep standing.
You know,
you and me came up
in the same hood.
I'm guessing that
you had your share of
troubles like I had.
You don't know...
nothing about me, man.
Just, you know...
try to keep both feet
on the good foot.
What is that
supposed to mean?
I know you don't
know me from Adam,
but I'm just here to give you
some friendly advice.
( soft chuckle )
Mr. Dalton's
giving you a chance.
Make something of it,
OK?
Aren't you cold?
A little.
I don't know
about Mary, man.
She seem a little crazy.
Probably.
( both chuckle )
Mm-mmm.
Mm.
What? What? Really?
( grunts )
Yeah.
Come on, get up.
Get up, baby.
( playful squeak )
- What?
- Come on.
- Unh-unh, what you
trying to do?
- Huh?
( Bessie giggles )
BIG: Why you playing?
Girl...
( indistinct remark )
JAN: Your friend
have anything more
interesting than weed?
You know, like...
I don't know,
something stronger?
MARY: So you're studying
business management?
That's not boring.
It's smart.
Yeah, it feels boring.
Well...
it's totally marketable,
which is great.
MARY: Beethoven?
Ninth Symphony?
Yeah, that's a good one.
Well, you should come.
Mmm...
What, you gon' go?
My parents are
season subscribers,
so they always get
two pairs of tickets,
but they never use 'em.
They'd love it, really.
I mean, we-we should go.
JAN: See you, Jules.
I got exams this week.
All right.
Well, you think about it.
- ( Bessie chuckles )
- BIG: I will.
( Mary laughs )
So, where do you spend
your summer, Big?
I, uh, summer where I winter.
( snickers )
Not everybody goes away
for the summer, babe.
( Bessie sighs )
I didn't want to assume.
I mean, that's worse, right?
Sorry. ( chuckles )
You'll get used to us.
JAN: I should probably...
( orchestral music playing )
GEORGE: Good evening,
Miss Dalton.
Hi, George.
Sorry we're late.
( "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's
Ninth Symphony plays )
BIG: Beethoven's
Ninth Symphony.
A blockbuster.
A true fucking masterpiece.
"I don't want to know anything
about your system of ethics.
Strength is the morality
of the man who
stands out from the rest...
and it is mine."
( Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
concludes )
( softly )
"...with love."
( soft chuckle )
MARY: Why do they
call it Molly?
BIG: Enjoy yourselves.
( hip-hop music playing )
( Jan pontificates )
JAN: ...it's going
to come from you.
That's how it has to happen,
if it happens at all.
But if it does happen, it's
going to come from you, right?
Like, you have the power.
You guys have the crux.
Our generation has
the power to change things.
( dance music playing )
( muffled music )
I should go.
I got work in the morning.
Damn, though.
Damn, you know
I can't wait.
I know.
I'll text you
when I get home.
( softly )
I love you.
I love you.
I love you too.
( hip-hop music playing )
- What the fuck!
- Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa.
It's OK, it's OK,
it's OK, it's OK, it's OK.
What do you mean it's OK?
No, get the fuck off!
MARY: Jesus!
BIG: Are you OK?
Look, I'm sorry.
Are you fucking kidding me?
You know what?
Fuck this!
Big, can you get her home?
Um...
Thank you for the "E."
It was an ounce.
Please just take it.
Please?
Thank you.
Yeah, well, thank you
for the record.
That shit was rad.
Thank you for coming
to my rescue at the party.
No sweat.
Meant a lot to me.
Oh, God.
I feel weird.
You want me to pull over?
Mnh-mnh.
( both chuckle )
( through clenched teeth )
I sorry.
- All right.
- For something weird.
( Mary giggles )
( giggles )
( Mary sings indistinctly )
( softly )
Fuck.
Merrily, merrily,
merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream
Hey, hey, hey!
Hey! Come here.
- Hey, hey-- Come on!
- ( laughing )
- Hey, come on!
- ( laughing )
BIG: Shh.
- Thank you so much.
- Yeah, of course.
But you gotta be
really quiet, OK?
MARY: Yeah.
MARY: OK.
- All right, girl.
- "All right, girl."
( sniffles )
All right. You good?
Yep.
All right,
but you gotta be quiet.
- Shh. OK?
- You shh!
( mumbling ) Yeah--
- OK. All right.
- Hey!
- Hey.
- I love... everything.
- That's the point, OK?
- Hey.
- OK. I need you to have a seat.
- No.
I love you.
- Right.
- No! Hey.
I mean it. I really love you.
OK. All right.
I think you're
really, really high.
- Hey.
- You gotta lay down for me.
- All right?
- Thank you for the great drugs.
( sighs )
OK. ( breathing heavily )
- Hey. You gotta stop.
- Mm-hmm?
You're gonna
get me fired, all right?
- OK, now you gotta lay--
- Do you wanna have a thing?
- We could have a little thing.
- No.
We could have a big thing.
No, no, no. Don't. Shh.
Lay down for me, all right?
- OK? I don't wanna get fired.
- OK, OK, OK, OK.
You're gonna get me fired.
If I lay down for you,
will you lay down with me?
You gonna make me lose my job.
- You're very handsome.
- Stop it.
You're so handsome.
I mean it.
You're really handsome.
( makes gurgling sound )
- ( Mary laughs )
- MRS. DALTON: Mary?
- I don't want you to--
- Shh!
- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
- All right, all right.
Mary, are you here?
- Shh!
- That's my mom.
- MRS. DALTON: Are you home?
- Shh!
Mom? ( muffled laughter )
MRS. DALTON:
Mary, are you there?
Mm-hmm. ( muffled laughter )
- ( muffled grunting )
- Shh!
MRS. DALTON:
What's that, dear?
Mary?
( sighs )
( whispers indistinctly )
Hey. Hey, hey!
Hey! Mary stop playing!
Come on!
Let's go!
( retching )
( grunting )
BIG: They'll open
their bedroom doors,
and they'll catch me.
I hope they do.
Then it'll be over.
Then it'll be done,
and I'll be able to rest.
But no, they're not going
to open their doors, are they?
( breathing heavily )
They're not going to see me
carrying her
through their house.
'Cause they're blind.
Her. Both of them.
All of them.
They're blind.
( breathing heavily )
( sighs )
( grunts )
You're gonna help me out, OK?
Help me out.
( grunting )
Come on. Help me out.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
( breathing heavily )
OK.
( grunts )
( spits )
( sighs )
BUDDY: Big.
BUDDY: Big.
Big.
What's up?
You ain't like it
at their house?
learn how to speak
Must've fell out your pocket
when you was sleepin'.
Anybody else see you with this?
No.
Don't tell nobody, all right?
You need my help?
No, just don't tell nobody.
OK.
- Hey, baby.
- Hey, Mom.
TRUDY: I thought
I heard you come in.
How are things goin'?
- Uh, good.
- Good?
Yeah.
You know, your father and I...
we used to always talk
about how you shine.
( sighs )
You're a very special boy,
Bigger, and you've always
done things your own way.
And I know, because of that,
things haven't always
been easy for you.
And this job may
not be your dream job,
but I am so proud
of you for taking on
the responsibility.
And I know your dad
would be, too.
Good, bread, good meat...
Good Lord, let's eat.
BUDDY: Amen.
( all laughing )
- Amen.
- Amen.
( chatting indistinctly )
BIG:
I'm sitting with them,
and they don't even
know what I've done.
- ( chatting continues )
- Don't use your fingers.
BIG: Even if it wasn't me,
folks would assume it was.
- Hey, Mom.
- Yeah?
BIG:
So I won't make it me.
I won't make it anybody.
I gotta find a way
to be OK somehow.
Find a way to be
something other than...
something other than what I am.
( laughs )
Is Mary coming down?
( sighs ) I don't think
she came home last night.
Her bed wasn't slept in.
No?
I'll go give her a call.
( sighs )
Is Mary ready to go?
( sighs ) Peggy said she
didn't come home last night,
though I thought I heard her.
She came home. I brought her.
TV REPORTER:
Chicago's mayor's office
today announced a plan
to add affordable housing
to the city's most expensive
and gentrifying neighborhoods.
Our own George Sherman
explains.
GEORGE:
The mayor wants to create
a multimillion-dollar fund
to give low-cost loans
to developers.
The loans then
would be used for...
If I prove myself, they'll
put me on the management track,
which means
I'll be in charge
of the ushers
and the concession services.
And I get a say in what kind
of products we stock.
You know, some candies
just sell better than others.
BIG:
Is Tony blind, too?
The more candy you sell,
the bigger your profit margin.
Shit, man, I'll be managing
that movie theater one day.
- You know, God willing.
- ( sighs ) Shit.
- Yo.
- BIG: Is Gus blind?
What's good, baby?
- What's good?
- BIG: Probably.
( chatting indistinctly )
BIG: The only thing
worse than being blind
is having sight...
but no vision.
( chatter continues )
BIG:
Maybe everybody's blind.
Even me.
( music playing
over headphones )
MAN: We checked all
the public transportation.
The rental cars,
the car service...
HENRY: So she hasn't
gone to Cuba this time.
Doesn't seem like it, sir.
How long you been
workin' here, son?
A little over a month.
You and Mary like to hang out?
- Uh, no--
- WOMAN: You're pals
on social media.
Yeah, well, that's just--
How about you come downtown
and answer a few questions?
You're charging
Bigger with a crime?
Not at all.
Then I don't see any reason
why you need to drag him
downtown for questioning.
No CCTV, so for now
we're believing your story.
So you brought 'em here?
Mary and Jan. Then what?
Yeah. You know, uh,
Jan's her boyfriend, I guess.
Why do you guess?
It's her boyfriend for sure.
- MAN: And they were drinking.
- Uh-huh.
You know, Jan's got a flask
that he's on, uh,
familiar terms with
if y'all get what I'm saying?
( chuckles )
Um, they went to this party
on the Gold Coast.
One of Mary's,
uh, college friends.
What kind of party was it?
Well, I went inside.
You know,
it was so cold outside,
and I could only
keep the car running
for so long, so...
I went inside.
It was pretty lively in there.
- You must've had you a time.
- MAN: Mm-hmm.
Nah, I just stayed by the door.
But Mary and Jan went in.
Yeah, uh-huh.
They was having fun.
You know, uh, smoking
and drinking and...
you know,
probably doin' other stuff.
Jan?
Yeah.
We've been watchin' him
ever since you asked us to.
He's associated
with political groups
in Berkeley,
but hasn't done much here
except run his mouth.
He's a big-time talker.
Politics.
He tried to get you
to join his club
or whatever he calls it?
( grunts )
BIG:
I don't got nothing to do
with that fucking shit.
I mean-- excuse my language,
but politics
just ain't my thing.
Besides, I got
a job anyway, so...
Hmm. Well,
thanks for allowing us
to talk with you.
BIG:
There. Asking me questions.
But they're taking
their cues from Mr. Dalton.
( chatter continues
indistinctly )
BIG: Me acting a good negro
is foolin' 'em.
Even though it's the same act
that they practice every day.
Sporting their badges,
but still got
the slave mentality.
- Just tell us
where the hell she is.
- Look--
I went home that night!
After you took her out
for a good time.
No, I went home by myself.
Look, I didn't go anywhere
near her fucking house, OK?
You wanna stick it
to her dad, don't you?
No, I-- I want a lawyer.
What did you do to her, Jan!
( sighs ) You know,
which part of protect
and serve is this?
( grunts )
Oh, my God!
BIG:
It is a peculiar sensation,
this double consciousness.
This sense of always
looking at oneself
through the eyes of others...
of measure one's soul
by the tape of a world
that looks on
in amused contempt and pity.
( sirens wailing )
Hey.
Hey, yourself.
How'd you get in?
The same way I always do.
What, is that a problem?
No, it's just that, uh,
the movie doesn't start
for another hour or so.
Yeah.
( laughs )
Yeah, uh... ( clears throat )...
I'ma just wait it out.
( chuckles )
You want some popcorn
or somethin'?
- No, I'm good.
- No, Big, I'll get you
some popcorn. No sweat.
( panting )
( sniffles )
I didn't think
you'd come.
You got the cops
around the corner
or somethin'?
You know
I'm not like that,
What happened
to your face?
What do you think?
I know you're innocent.
Whatever happened out there,
it was, uh...
I mean,
it was some kind of accident.
Sure, they're tryin' to say
that, uh...
I raped her
'cause her body's burned.
Mary was, uh...
I didn't, uh...
you know, rape her or...
get with her....
( sniffles )
or any of that.
I know a good lawyer.
- He'll help you.
- It's--
It's too late for that.
And the Daltons, man,
they'll be on your side
- if you just turn yourself in.
- It's too late for that!
( pistols cock )
( panting )
I thought
we were friends.
MAN ON TV:
Let us pray
for the woman lost,
Mary Dalton.
- Unh-unh. Unh-unh.
- And let us pray
for our brother Bigger Thomas.
And why do they say
he's guilty?
Because in their minds,
he was guilty
before he was born.
- ( clippers buzzing )
- He's got black guilt.
There ain't nobody in this city
free of this scourge.
Some of us got black guilt.
- ( crying ) Unh-unh!
- Some of us got white guilt.
Two sides of the same
godforsaken...
two sides of
the same shameful story.
( beads clacking )
- ( Bessie grunts )
- I'm not hungry.
( sighs )
You're gonna
turn yourself in, right?
For what?
- I didn't do nothin'.
- Then tell 'em that.
You can't stay back here
forever.
( TV playing indistinctly )
Yesterday when they came around
askin' about you,
I didn't tell 'em nothin'.
That's good.
That's good.
You shoulda let me cut it.
I'm all right.
You know, you're always
talkin' about wantin'
to get married.
Well, let's do that.
Let's just run away
and get married.
Did you kill her?
You killed her.
No.
I didn't.
But if they catch me,
they'll pin it on me
and they'll twist it up
and make it seem like I did it.
- You want that for me?
- So you gotta tell 'em
that you didn't.
- Tell Mr. Dalton.
- Mr. Dalton...
doesn't want to hear from me.
I don't know what
happened to her.
But what I...
what I do know...
is that I need you.
You're not makin' any sense.
Run away with me.
They'll catch us.
Not if we're smart.
Not if we lay low.
Yeah?
We lay low and...
we hide out...
you know, we just wait
until things blow over.
Then we just go.
All right?
Yeah, OK.
OK.
Now get your coat.
Go on.
Baby, get your coat.
( door opens )
( hinges creak )
( mutters indistinctly )
( sniffles )
Hey. Hey.
Put your coat on.
You'll catch cold.
You got it.
I found a spot.
Where?
It's a good spot.
OK?
Please don't do this
to me, Big.
( sniffling )
I done everything for you
I know how,
but please don't
do this to me.
I don't bother nobody.
I just go to work
and I go to school....
- Hey. Hey.
- Please don't do this
to me.
Hey. Hey. Hey.
Baby, I love you.
I love you.
You gotta trust me.
- OK? Hey.
- ( crying )
Hey.
You gotta trust me, OK?
OK?
You trust me?
OK.
This is a good spot.
( chuckles )
Big.
If you ain't
do nothin' wrong--
Hey. Hey.
I got this.
I got this.
( birds chirping )
( distant siren wails )
Hey.
You sleep all right?
( sighs )
( kiss )
( grunt ) I'm not--
I don't want to.
I can't be with you
right now. I--
I came this far,
and that's all I can do.
Baby, you ain't even
gotta do--
No.
- ( kissing )
- Stop.
Stop. Stop it!
Stop!!!
- ( running away )
- Bessie!
Bessie. Bessie!
Did you kill her?
I--
( expels air )
Gimme that.
Come on, give me the gun.
No. ( whimpers )
( indistinct chatter )
Why you gotta do that?
You gotta turn yourself in, Big.
( panting )
- What you do that for?
- Big.
( muttering )
- Baby. Baby.
- Why would you do that, Bessie?
Baby.
( crying )
Why you do that? Hmm?
Why you do that?
- Why you do that?
- ( Bessie choking )
You're gonna kill me too.
Aaah! ( coughs )
No.
( Bessie crying )
I'm so sorry.
( panting )
I'm so sorry, baby.
Baby, I'm so sorry.
( crying )
I'm so--
Bessie, I'm s--
I'm so sorry.
( cries out )
( footsteps recede )
( siren wails )
I'm so sorry.
( sirens approach )
( sirens continue, louder )
( panting )
( sirens continue )
- ( doors slam )
- ( police radio chatter )
( sniffling )
MALE SINGERS:
Doo doo
Doo doo
( male singers
continue vocalizing )
( female singers vocalize )
( Bessie crying )
( vocalizing continues )
( sniffles )
( female singers
continue vocalizing )
COP:
Stop!
Put your fuckin' hands
in the air!
( vocalizing continues )
Put 'em up!
Put your hands
in the air.
Don't fuckin' do it.
( gunshots )
( cops chattering,
indistinct )
BIG:
In it...
and of it...
and now flyin' high
and above it.
Lookin' down
on the whole earth.
Wish that it was different...
but it ain't.
Not yet.
Not yet.
( instrumental music playing )
( instrumental music
continues )
WYATT CENAC: If you could remake
public education
in this country,
how would you do it?
MAN: That's hard.
CENAC:
Yeah, it's a great question.
-Yeah.
-That's what I do.
-(LAUGHS) That's what you do?
-Yeah.
(FUNK MUSIC PLAYS)
How do you give kids a fair
and equitable education?
Smaller class sizes...
sex ed... goat yoga.
Right, okay.
When you make
a high school curriculum,
what's that look like?
Just people who can think
outside the box.
Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
You're my only hope.
(MUSIC CONTINUES, FADES)
( traffic flows )
( birds chirping )
BIG: Early mornin'
I got the whole world
to myself.
I don't need no alarm clock
to wake me up.
( birds caw )
Morning, Walter.
( urine flows )
( toilet flushes )
( sighs )
I'm doing my class
presentation today.
That don't mean you
gotta spend all morning in
the bathroom putting on makeup.
So how else am I supposed
to look nice?
Big, you be quick,
all right?
Go in my room
and get dressed.
And you can wear a pair
of my shoes if you want.
Thanks, Mom.
Only not the red ones.
Thank you, Lord, for the food
we're about to receive.
Get the hell outta here!
- Shit! Fuck!
- ( all screaming )
Big, go get it!
He's under here,
right under the thing!
Oh, shoot, Big,
he's over there,
he's over there!
Hey, not my books,
Big, come on!
TRUDY: Buddy,
go get the skillet.
He's gonna bite you,
Big, watch out!
- TRUDY: Be careful!
- No, he ain't scared none.
Don't get too close, Big.
- ( Buddy shouting )
- Hey, yo, Buddy, hurry up.
- He's gonna bite you!
- Hurry up, hurry up!
Here, take it, take it,
take it! Take it!
( all scream )
( awed groans )
TRUDY: Finally got
that motherfucker.
Huh?
( all screaming )
Put it in the trash!
SISTER: Ooh!
And wash your hands!
You wash your hands?
Yeah.
Big.
Be careful.
( clicks tongue )
( cat meows )
BIG: Hey. Hey.
( cat meows )
Hey.
Hey.
( clicks tongue )
( cat meows )
Hey. Hey, hey.
Hey. ( sniffs )
Hey.
Hey.
( sniffs )
( cat meows )
You all are just a bunch
of scrawny good-for-nothings.
Shiftless no-accounts
waiting for a handout.
VOCALIST:
One, two, three, now!
BIG: Makin' somethin'
of myself.
I got shit goin' on.
I make my move when I decide on
what my move is gonna be.
I can't be jumpin'
at just anything.
That'd be stupid.
I ain't stupid.
VOCALIST: They could
care less about you
They could care
less about me
As long as they
are to end
The place that
they want to be
They're always wearing
false smiles
I guess it
goes with the style
Politicians in my eyes
Always trying to be slick
When they tell us the lies
They're responsible for
sending young men to die
We have waited so long
For someone to come along
And correct
our country's law
But the wait's
been too long
BIG: There's plenty
of things I could do.
Plenty of things.
Plenty of things
I could be good at.
Great at, even.
( classical music playing )
Hey.
You taking me out tonight?
Told you I would.
Mmm... but I don't
dance enough.
You don't, eh?
( soft chuckle )
How many hairstyles
you gotta do today?
Just one,
but it's elaborate.
Is that for me?
Mm-hmm.
No, that's for my boss.
I gotta deliver it for him.
He been cheating
on his wife again?
Shit, you know it.
( soft chuckle )
Job opportunity?
It's probably
just some bullshit.
- ( clears throat )
- Maybe not.
She talking about
she wants me
to come home later tonight
to tell me about it.
Well, I'm telling her
that I'm coming.
That'll make her day.
I could use
some perfume, though.
( soft chuckle )
( telephone rings )
Yo.
Yeah, hey.
Yeah, I did it.
Rang her doorbell
and everything.
She didn't answer, so I
just left it on the front porch.
Yeah.
I hope that's cool.
All right, cool.
Bye.
( soft snickers )
You're crazy as hell.
Yeah? So what?
Thank you.
No sweat.
( classical music playing )
BIG: They're hurrying around
like a bunch of rats.
And they're all blind,
thinking they're
in a groove, but...
living in a rut.
- What's up, bro?
- What's up?
For one, the fuckin' glasses
always be foggin' up.
So get you some eye surgery.
'Cause then you have,
like, twenty-twenty.
( soft chuckle )
Figure I do that shit,
I'm getting
my pilot's license.
I mean, yeah, though,
all that shit for real.
Free like a bird.
You know?
In it and of it...
flying high and above it.
GUS: You should come
work for me, man.
BIG: I'm all right.
Just saying, Big,
I pay twice as much
as what
that messenger job...
A'ight, Gus.
...delivering damn
envelopes and shit.
I don't need a job, a'ight?
What I need is
my motherfuckin' weed, nigga.
( laughter )
- I got you.
- A'ight?
I got you.
Voila.
Now, you sure you don't
want nothing but weed?
'Cause I got...
shit, I got "E,"
"F," "G," "H," "I,"
the alphabet
in this motherfucker.
I am positive, bro.
A'ight.
Yeah, that's about it.
( muffled remark )
Respect.
GUS: Still carrying
that pistol, huh?
Yeah.
It was my Pop's.
You know all that shit, bro.
Don't mean
you gotta carry it.
( soft chuckle )
Yeah, man, you gotta reframe
your whole worldview, man.
See, people are
motivated by love.
Or people
are motivated by fear.
But your hair...
that's smooth right there.
It's green.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
that's the, um...
that's that color,
"Army issue."
( laughter )
VOCALIST: Hey
hey hey hey hey
Police and thieves
in the street
Oh, yeah
Fighting the nation
with their...
( music playing overhead )
Hey, yo, what's up?
You guys have that
Bad Rage vinyl?
Right here, man.
How much is that?
This, man? There's one
in the Smithsonian.
( soft chuckle )
MAN: So, you in or what?
I don't know, Jack.
Man, what you mean
you don't know, man?
It's easy money.
I don't know.
Listen,
I got all the details
worked out.
Old Blum ain't got nobody
in the store, ten a.m.
Everybody gone wherever,
everybody picked up they
newspapers and all that.
Cops don't circle back
until 10:30,
so that gives us thirty
whole minutes to hit that shit.
( Big clears throat )
You tryin' to rob
a corner store at gunpoint?
I'm sorry,
I'm not interested
in being a part of some
least common denominator
stereotypical Negro shit.
You ain't gotta
call it that, man.
Well, that's
what it is, though.
Look, this ain't
a nickel-and-dime robbery.
I got all the details
worked out, bro, trust me.
I'll think about it,
all right?
( scoffs )
MAN: Get off
the fuckin' stage!
( movie dialogue plays )
TONY: Uh, excuse me,
do you guys have tickets?
( snickering )
- Tony. Bullshit.
- You all right, Tony.
Yo, Tony, want to hear about
how we gon' hit Blum's?
TONY: Not right now, man.
BIG: Yeah,
I hear that shit.
Y'all niggas always talk about
how you want something to do,
and now I got something.
MOVIE ACTOR: Anybody
can tell you that don't
add up to a dollar.
BIG: Nigga, shut
the fuck up and watch
the fuckin' movie, bro.
Fuck y'all niggas, man.
( distant dog barks )
So, Big, what kind
of music you into?
You like that hip-hop?
What is it?
Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie or Tupac?
- ( soft chuckle )
- I like Kanye.
TRUDY: Marty was asking Big.
None of the above, man.
What about sports?
The Bulls?
You know, I know a guy
that can get me some tickets.
Maybe it'd be nice if the two
of us go to a game sometime.
No, you know, sports
were more like, uh,
( clears throat )
my dad's thing.
Know?
Right?
Yeah, more like
a dad thing.
Y'all two getting serious?
Your mother's
a wonderful woman.
As the three of you know.
Marty thinks I should
go to law school.
You're a great paralegal.
You should take the next step.
So y'all will both be lawyers.
Yeah, well, not all
lawyers make the big bucks.
I mostly work with the non-
profits, that kind of thing.
Tell him about the job, hon.
( Big slurps loudly )
It's an excellent opportunity.
What is it, office work?
One of our biggest clients
is looking for a new driver.
That sounds so boring.
That's 'cause you
don't drive, stupid.
Who's the client?
Will Dalton.
He owns, like, every
building in the city.
And he's had the same driver
for twenty years.
Sounds like a great job,
good pay.
Full benefits package.
So, you interested
in the job, son?
I don't know.
I mean, I--
It's not mine yet.
I still gotta...
go in and do the interview
and all of that.
So, is the interview
at the Dalton Building?
No, it's at his home office.
I'll think about it.
BIG: New game.
Same old rules.
Brand-new game.
Same old shit.
What was that--
the only thing
I remember from school--
"panem et circenses."
Bread and circus.
Keep them fed
and entertained and stupid,
and, that way, you can
keep them where you want them.
You and Big serious?
We together.
You should be with someone
who's got more going on.
What, like you and Gus?
Yeah. Gus has got a future.
Big's cool and all,
but... he's more like
a fixer-upper.
He's a wild card,
and he don't need fixin'.
When they made Big,
they broke the mold.
( laughs )
( indistinct friendly chatter )
Hey, y'all know that
up there is me, right?
How you doin'?
Who is that?
( soft laughter )
Mnh-mnh. White girls
like poodles.
They go to bed with anybody.
Is you gon' look at her
all night?
Mm-mmm.
Shit, I'd rather be
lookin' at you, baby.
Well, you weren't.
Hey...
It's me and you, all right?
( passionate moans )
BIG: Oh, fuck.
Hey, look,
I'm telling you,
Blum's store is
a cash-only business.
And they got
money in the till
ripe for the taking.
I mean, and it'd give us
a way to prove ourselves.
TONY: We ain't
in high school no more, man.
I mean, shit, I got a son
I gotta take care of
and a job I gotta do,
every day.
JACK: Suit yourself.
Big?
What's Gus say?
Got "A," got "B,"
got "E."
Shit, I got the whole
damn alphabet.
( both chuckle )
Yeah, I don't know.
I don't think Gus is in.
Yeah, that's 'cause Gus
don't need the opportunity.
Just me, you, Big.
You got it all planned out?
Man, it's like we practically
already done it.
Yeah, home...
I don't know, bro.
Know, it-- it ain't for me.
Yeah.
You don't want
to nothin' authentic.
Instead of looking
and acting like a real brother,
you have to run around
fronting like a fucking clown.
I'll meet you whenever...
and rob whatever.
Name the time and place.
Next Tuesday,
a week from today,
ten in the morning.
Done.
BESSIE: You really gon'
rob that store with Jack?
BIG: I told him I would.
Hey.
You want me
to stay the night?
Maybe tomorrow night.
What about that job offer
from your mom?
What about it?
( music playing )
VOCALIST: Everybody's
still got a veto
And everybody's
still got the power
Everybody's
still got a veto
And everybody's
still got the power
For the blind people
For the blind people
Every man and woman
is learning how to fight
Babies are learning
how to shout
Black power
Black power
Some countries in Africa
got it quite all right
What's there to stop
every other one
From black power?
From black power?
Yeah, we want power...
( doorbell rings )
( footsteps approach )
You must be the Thomas boy.
Yes, ma'am.
I'm Peggy, come in.
Thanks.
You'll get used to it.
Wait here.
All right.
You can sit down.
OK.
( footsteps approach )
Great of you
to come by this morning.
- Will Dalton.
- Um, thank you for
having me, sir.
No "sir," just Dalton.
Thank you for having me,
Mr. Dalton.
You can come on this way.
All right.
So, you all been
living here a long time?
WILL: The house has been
in the family for generations.
Is everything OK?
I wanted to meet
our new driver.
Mr. Thomas, meet my beautiful
young wife, Mrs. Dalton.
It's a pleasure.
Did you find
the house all right?
Yeah.
Yes. Yes, ma'am.
You didn't get lost.
Not at all, ma'am.
Marty says you are
a wonderful young man.
Do you enjoy driving?
Very much, ma'am.
Well, it's settled, then.
Let's head into my office.
It's a pleasure
having you in our home.
Nice to meet you.
( Will chuckles softly )
She hasn't always been blind.
Hmm.
Have a seat.
No computer?
I'm a total Luddite.
I feel that.
I prefer, uh,
cassettes to CDs.
We're on the same page.
( soft chuckle )
Yeah.
- Your resume?
- Yes. Uh...
It's not really...
up to date.
Ah, that's fine.
Marty says you're a good guy.
So, my security guy,
he insists that I do
a thorough background check.
( soft chuckle )
OK.
Clean record.
( soft chuckle )
Well, yeah.
You're a good driver?
The best.
I-I've never even
run a red light.
That's what they say.
Your first name is Bigger.
Yeah. Uh,
my friends call me Big.
- Not Biggie?
- After Biggie Smalls? Nah.
Good, seeing how
Christopher Wallace
came to a difficult end.
( soft chuckle )
Are you nearsighted
or farsighted?
I wear them for driving,
but, uh, they're not strong.
They're just to...
make things...
Clearer. Right.
Right.
No, sit down.
So, you'll have a room
here, on the top floor
of the house.
You'll have your meals
here too, of course.
Right.
You'll make a thousand
dollars a week.
( chuckles )
You got any questions
so far?
None at all.
I'm usually at the office
by eight a.m.
Then you'll be on duty
to take Miss Dalton,
our daughter,
to the university.
Her class schedule,
it varies.
But during the day,
should Mrs. Dalton
want to go out,
you'll take her.
Think you can handle
all that?
Yeah.
One question:
You guys want me
to cut my hair?
It's fine just as it is.
Is that good?
Yeah.
Job is yours, Bigger.
Great.
Mr. Greene,
our last driver,
he did very well here.
We hope you will too.
I plan to.
MARY: Dad?
Mom said you were
interviewing.
I already hired him.
Bigger Thomas,
this is my daughter Mary.
Hi.
Hey.
I think
I saw you on the news.
What?
( giggles ) It's for
the kids charity event, Dad.
- Alex.
- OK.
Last year, I, um,
made page six
when I took my boyfriend
Jan to Havana.
WILL: We were worried.
But it was all good
in the end, right?
Yeah, you could
say that.
WILL: Let's go
find Peggy.
Cool.
So, uh, your name
is Bigger?
Uh, yeah, yeah.
My friends call me Big.
Your hair is rad.
( chuckles )
Thanks.
Do you ever go to,
um, Animal?
Um, yeah, yeah,
sometimes.
So crazy, all the political
stuff that's going on
these days, right?
WILL: Mary,
I don't think Bigger
wants to talk about--
Sure he does.
Dad hates it when I talk
about Occupy
or the Peoples Movement,
but, I mean, you probably
march, right?
Well...
MARY: I hear you,
I hear you.
Folks work
a nine-to-five job
don't really have time
to be at all the rallies.
But you're outraged,
aren't you?
Yeah.
Sure.
See, Dad?
He's outraged.
Unlike you because you're
a damn capitalist.
- ( Will laughs )
- You're outraged,
as you should be.
I'm just happy
to have this job.
I, uh,
I have class tonight.
You gonna take me?
We haven't worked out
his start date yet.
Let him start tonight.
Yeah, I can-- I can--
I can start tonight.
Is that cool?
Yeah, that's--
that's fine.
Cool. OK.
- Bye.
- Love you.
- You too.
- See you.
It's nice--
For years,
we have been staunch
supporters of the NAACP.
Mary, instead
of pointing out
the good I'm doing,
delights in pointing out
my faults.
( chuckles )
Well, I think you're doing
a pretty good job, sir.
I appreciate you saying that.
PEGGY: This is your room.
BIG: OK.
PEGGY: Look, you get
southern exposure,
so it will always be
nice and bright.
We're changing the sheets
once a week.
- OK.
- And you've got Wi-Fi.
Great.
You and I will always use
these back stairs here
so that they can
have their privacy, and,
quite frankly, so can we.
Cool.
You know, after you've
been working here for a while,
you might have a lady friend
whom you'd like to invite
over sometime.
( soft chuckle )
I think a place like this
needs security cameras,
but Mr. Dalton thinks
heightened security
means heightened crime.
So, this is the furnace.
You'll be in charge
of loading this monster.
It heats the house
adequately, but it's
a clunky old thing.
Still takes coal.
I tell Mr. Dalton,
let's get something
more green, but...
maybe you'll be able
to convince him.
Until then, you'll be
loading this dinosaur
twice a day,
and each night
before you go to bed,
you have
to clean out the ashes.
All clear?
All right.
Good.
Can I touch your hair?
I'm kidding.
( popping tongue )
Wanna turn the radio on?
Sure.
Shit. ( grunts )
( hip-hop music playing )
You like this music?
Yeah, it's--
it's cool.
What do you listen to?
Well, if you
really want to know,
sometimes, uh...
this.
( death metal music playing )
It's pretty cool.
Then, uh...
sometimes
I look for this.
( classical music playing )
OK.
It's all perspective.
Well, rest assured,
you and my dad are gonna
get along just great.
I thought you were
going to class?
Just meeting some friends.
You wanna come in?
Nah, I'm good. I think
I should probably stay
with the car.
No, you should come in,
but, um... I get it.
OK. Stay warm.
All right.
( sighs )
( indistinct chatter )
( muffled speech )
( muffled speech )
WOMAN: Bye.
MARY: See ya.
JAN: Big?
Hey.
You're Jan.
How'd you know?
Stuff I read online.
Don't believe everything
you read about Jan.
There's a lot of
fake news out there.
Hey, can I drive?
Aw, don't
worry about it,
Big, it's cool.
JAN: Cool.
Everybody in?
Where should we go?
I'm starving.
Are you hungry, Big?
Uh, I'm all right.
Yo, how 'bout a place
in your neighborhood, Big?
You know...
where you can get
some real food.
MARY: What about B and G's?
Let's go to B and G's, yeah?
JAN: Sounds good.
I don't... I don't think y'all
want to go to B and G's.
It's on Juneway Terrace
and Howard.
Hey, maybe Big
doesn't want to go.
It'll be fun.
Come on, guys,
it'll be my treat.
All right, let's...
let's go to B and G's.
JAN: All right.
Let's go.
( Mary speaks indistinctly )
( music playing )
MARY: Thank you.
JAN: Uh, can we get
a bottle of vodka?
JAN: Thank you.
Yo, why is Big with them?
I don't know.
He's supposed to be at work.
Hmm.
It don't look like
he at work.
This place is nice.
Mm-hmm.
Hey, Big.
Hey, Lily.
Look, I'm sure
he ain't with her,
a'ight? He's with them.
If he's working,
then why is he
sitting with them?
I don't know.
JASMINE: Bess.
BESSIE: I'm-a be cool.
JASMINE: A'ight.
Hey.
I thought you was at work.
I am.
Um, I'm Jan.
I'm Mary. Hi.
Nice job.
Yeah, it's all right.
I didn't catch your name.
Sorry, what's your name?
Uh, this is Bessie.
Bessie, if you want
to sit down, there's
plenty of room.
No. I'm already
sitting over there.
I'll go back to my place.
Hey, you wanna--
you wanna meet up later?
You want one?
Yeah, all right.
JAN:
That your girlfriend?
Yep.
Jan and I are, um,
engaged.
But please don't
tell my dad
because he'll
lose his mind.
Your dad seems all right.
Yeah...
if you like One-Percenters.
It's all the same shit
to me.
I grew up in Los Angeles--
well, outside of Los Angeles.
My, uh, folks split up.
Me and my mom, we, uh...
scraped by.
My dad, he was
an accountant, you know?
One day he just...
dropped dead.
Uh...
So sorry.
No, it's all good.
How long?
'Bout six or seven
years ago.
I live in such
an "affluenza" bubble,
and...
I've no idea...
about what, like,
black people actually think
about what's going on
in the world right now.
Well, I'll be sure
to mention that
at our next black meeting.
( both chuckling )
- JAN: Good night.
- MARY: Good night.
BIG: Let me
ask you a question.
MARY: Mmm?
The driver before me,
Greene,
he used to take you
wherever you wanted to go, huh?
Mnh-mnh.
( chuckles )
No, he was, uh,
straight as an arrow,
super square,
no fun ever.
No, he was all right,
though. He, um...
He went to night school,
he got his degree
in business.
Moving on up.
( chuckling )
My parents are
very proud of him.
( distant dog barks )
MARY: That's a lot of stairs.
Help me.
You can make it up.
MARY: Here's the thing, Mom--
I'm fine to go to church,
so long as you can
recognize that
religion is the opiate
of the masses.
OK.
I think it is lovely
that we are attending church
and giving thanks.
MARY: It is, it is,
it's lovely.
Thank you.
Thank you, Jesus.
( bells tolling )
WILL: I could use
a week of rain,
just listening to you read.
You're gonna read me
another chapter, aren't you?
MRS. DALTON: Mmm...
"I looked at him eagerly
when he looked at me,
and slightly moved my hands
and shook my head.
I had been waiting for him
to see me,
that I might try to assure him
of my innocence.
It was not at all
expressed to me
that he even comprehended
my intention,
for he gave me a look
that I did not understand,
and it all passed
in a moment."
( soft chuckle )
So fantastic.
( traffic flows )
( punk rock music playing )
( indistinct voices )
( symphonic music rises )
( symphonic music plays
on radio )
I love Beethoven.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I love him too.
All right.
WILL: So, you can
borrow the car
anytime you like.
BIG: Yeah?
WILL: Take your
girl out for a spin,
or something.
BIG: Yeah, uh, maybe.
VOCALIST:
Hey, wait, look, huh
( overlapping laughter
and chatter )
( vocalist continues singing )
JACK: Hey, babe,
bring me water.
I didn't do the job
because you didn't show.
Nigga, don't be casting
your fucking anxieties on me.
Got yourself a new job
and you lost your nuts, huh?
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Don't go there, big dawg.
I'll go wherever
the fuck I want.
Better watch yourself.
Big'll put you
out on the street,
your ass gon' be
walkin' home.
( laughter )
Ha ha ha ha.
Nigga ain't interested
in a real job.
He's too busy working
for the white folk.
Yeah.
You a house nigger now.
Hey, fuck you, nigga.
No, fuck you.
Living in a big house.
You aren't a nigga no more,
are you... nigga?
He never even
really was one.
Yeah, you a lame-ass
pussy Oreo for damn sure.
( Jack groans )
Fuck!
Yo, Big, come on!
Come on, Big,
get off him!
What the fuck, man?
No, no, no, no, no!
Black enough for your
motherfuckin' ' ass now, nigga?
Chill, chill.
- Man, fuck you, Big!
- No, no, no, no, no.
You hit me?
Get the fuck off me!
Look at me, baby,
look at me, look at me.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
'Sup?
Can I help you
with something?
My name is Greene.
You must be Bigger.
Yeah.
So, what, you here to
take your old job back?
( chuckles )
No, young man,
I'm happy where I'm at.
Mr. Dalton says
you workin' out all right.
I am.
Still got both your
feet on the ground?
Shit, you see me
standing here?
Good man.
Keep standing.
You know,
you and me came up
in the same hood.
I'm guessing that
you had your share of
troubles like I had.
You don't know...
nothing about me, man.
Just, you know...
try to keep both feet
on the good foot.
What is that
supposed to mean?
I know you don't
know me from Adam,
but I'm just here to give you
some friendly advice.
( soft chuckle )
Mr. Dalton's
giving you a chance.
Make something of it,
OK?
Aren't you cold?
A little.
I don't know
about Mary, man.
She seem a little crazy.
Probably.
( both chuckle )
Mm-mmm.
Mm.
What? What? Really?
( grunts )
Yeah.
Come on, get up.
Get up, baby.
( playful squeak )
- What?
- Come on.
- Unh-unh, what you
trying to do?
- Huh?
( Bessie giggles )
BIG: Why you playing?
Girl...
( indistinct remark )
JAN: Your friend
have anything more
interesting than weed?
You know, like...
I don't know,
something stronger?
MARY: So you're studying
business management?
That's not boring.
It's smart.
Yeah, it feels boring.
Well...
it's totally marketable,
which is great.
MARY: Beethoven?
Ninth Symphony?
Yeah, that's a good one.
Well, you should come.
Mmm...
What, you gon' go?
My parents are
season subscribers,
so they always get
two pairs of tickets,
but they never use 'em.
They'd love it, really.
I mean, we-we should go.
JAN: See you, Jules.
I got exams this week.
All right.
Well, you think about it.
- ( Bessie chuckles )
- BIG: I will.
( Mary laughs )
So, where do you spend
your summer, Big?
I, uh, summer where I winter.
( snickers )
Not everybody goes away
for the summer, babe.
( Bessie sighs )
I didn't want to assume.
I mean, that's worse, right?
Sorry. ( chuckles )
You'll get used to us.
JAN: I should probably...
( orchestral music playing )
GEORGE: Good evening,
Miss Dalton.
Hi, George.
Sorry we're late.
( "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's
Ninth Symphony plays )
BIG: Beethoven's
Ninth Symphony.
A blockbuster.
A true fucking masterpiece.
"I don't want to know anything
about your system of ethics.
Strength is the morality
of the man who
stands out from the rest...
and it is mine."
( Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
concludes )
( softly )
"...with love."
( soft chuckle )
MARY: Why do they
call it Molly?
BIG: Enjoy yourselves.
( hip-hop music playing )
( Jan pontificates )
JAN: ...it's going
to come from you.
That's how it has to happen,
if it happens at all.
But if it does happen, it's
going to come from you, right?
Like, you have the power.
You guys have the crux.
Our generation has
the power to change things.
( dance music playing )
( muffled music )
I should go.
I got work in the morning.
Damn, though.
Damn, you know
I can't wait.
I know.
I'll text you
when I get home.
( softly )
I love you.
I love you.
I love you too.
( hip-hop music playing )
- What the fuck!
- Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa.
It's OK, it's OK,
it's OK, it's OK, it's OK.
What do you mean it's OK?
No, get the fuck off!
MARY: Jesus!
BIG: Are you OK?
Look, I'm sorry.
Are you fucking kidding me?
You know what?
Fuck this!
Big, can you get her home?
Um...
Thank you for the "E."
It was an ounce.
Please just take it.
Please?
Thank you.
Yeah, well, thank you
for the record.
That shit was rad.
Thank you for coming
to my rescue at the party.
No sweat.
Meant a lot to me.
Oh, God.
I feel weird.
You want me to pull over?
Mnh-mnh.
( both chuckle )
( through clenched teeth )
I sorry.
- All right.
- For something weird.
( Mary giggles )
( giggles )
( Mary sings indistinctly )
( softly )
Fuck.
Merrily, merrily,
merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream
Hey, hey, hey!
Hey! Come here.
- Hey, hey-- Come on!
- ( laughing )
- Hey, come on!
- ( laughing )
BIG: Shh.
- Thank you so much.
- Yeah, of course.
But you gotta be
really quiet, OK?
MARY: Yeah.
MARY: OK.
- All right, girl.
- "All right, girl."
( sniffles )
All right. You good?
Yep.
All right,
but you gotta be quiet.
- Shh. OK?
- You shh!
( mumbling ) Yeah--
- OK. All right.
- Hey!
- Hey.
- I love... everything.
- That's the point, OK?
- Hey.
- OK. I need you to have a seat.
- No.
I love you.
- Right.
- No! Hey.
I mean it. I really love you.
OK. All right.
I think you're
really, really high.
- Hey.
- You gotta lay down for me.
- All right?
- Thank you for the great drugs.
( sighs )
OK. ( breathing heavily )
- Hey. You gotta stop.
- Mm-hmm?
You're gonna
get me fired, all right?
- OK, now you gotta lay--
- Do you wanna have a thing?
- We could have a little thing.
- No.
We could have a big thing.
No, no, no. Don't. Shh.
Lay down for me, all right?
- OK? I don't wanna get fired.
- OK, OK, OK, OK.
You're gonna get me fired.
If I lay down for you,
will you lay down with me?
You gonna make me lose my job.
- You're very handsome.
- Stop it.
You're so handsome.
I mean it.
You're really handsome.
( makes gurgling sound )
- ( Mary laughs )
- MRS. DALTON: Mary?
- I don't want you to--
- Shh!
- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
- All right, all right.
Mary, are you here?
- Shh!
- That's my mom.
- MRS. DALTON: Are you home?
- Shh!
Mom? ( muffled laughter )
MRS. DALTON:
Mary, are you there?
Mm-hmm. ( muffled laughter )
- ( muffled grunting )
- Shh!
MRS. DALTON:
What's that, dear?
Mary?
( sighs )
( whispers indistinctly )
Hey. Hey, hey!
Hey! Mary stop playing!
Come on!
Let's go!
( retching )
( grunting )
BIG: They'll open
their bedroom doors,
and they'll catch me.
I hope they do.
Then it'll be over.
Then it'll be done,
and I'll be able to rest.
But no, they're not going
to open their doors, are they?
( breathing heavily )
They're not going to see me
carrying her
through their house.
'Cause they're blind.
Her. Both of them.
All of them.
They're blind.
( breathing heavily )
( sighs )
( grunts )
You're gonna help me out, OK?
Help me out.
( grunting )
Come on. Help me out.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
( breathing heavily )
OK.
( grunts )
( spits )
( sighs )
BUDDY: Big.
BUDDY: Big.
Big.
What's up?
You ain't like it
at their house?
learn how to speak
Must've fell out your pocket
when you was sleepin'.
Anybody else see you with this?
No.
Don't tell nobody, all right?
You need my help?
No, just don't tell nobody.
OK.
- Hey, baby.
- Hey, Mom.
TRUDY: I thought
I heard you come in.
How are things goin'?
- Uh, good.
- Good?
Yeah.
You know, your father and I...
we used to always talk
about how you shine.
( sighs )
You're a very special boy,
Bigger, and you've always
done things your own way.
And I know, because of that,
things haven't always
been easy for you.
And this job may
not be your dream job,
but I am so proud
of you for taking on
the responsibility.
And I know your dad
would be, too.
Good, bread, good meat...
Good Lord, let's eat.
BUDDY: Amen.
( all laughing )
- Amen.
- Amen.
( chatting indistinctly )
BIG:
I'm sitting with them,
and they don't even
know what I've done.
- ( chatting continues )
- Don't use your fingers.
BIG: Even if it wasn't me,
folks would assume it was.
- Hey, Mom.
- Yeah?
BIG:
So I won't make it me.
I won't make it anybody.
I gotta find a way
to be OK somehow.
Find a way to be
something other than...
something other than what I am.
( laughs )
Is Mary coming down?
( sighs ) I don't think
she came home last night.
Her bed wasn't slept in.
No?
I'll go give her a call.
( sighs )
Is Mary ready to go?
( sighs ) Peggy said she
didn't come home last night,
though I thought I heard her.
She came home. I brought her.
TV REPORTER:
Chicago's mayor's office
today announced a plan
to add affordable housing
to the city's most expensive
and gentrifying neighborhoods.
Our own George Sherman
explains.
GEORGE:
The mayor wants to create
a multimillion-dollar fund
to give low-cost loans
to developers.
The loans then
would be used for...
If I prove myself, they'll
put me on the management track,
which means
I'll be in charge
of the ushers
and the concession services.
And I get a say in what kind
of products we stock.
You know, some candies
just sell better than others.
BIG:
Is Tony blind, too?
The more candy you sell,
the bigger your profit margin.
Shit, man, I'll be managing
that movie theater one day.
- You know, God willing.
- ( sighs ) Shit.
- Yo.
- BIG: Is Gus blind?
What's good, baby?
- What's good?
- BIG: Probably.
( chatting indistinctly )
BIG: The only thing
worse than being blind
is having sight...
but no vision.
( chatter continues )
BIG:
Maybe everybody's blind.
Even me.
( music playing
over headphones )
MAN: We checked all
the public transportation.
The rental cars,
the car service...
HENRY: So she hasn't
gone to Cuba this time.
Doesn't seem like it, sir.
How long you been
workin' here, son?
A little over a month.
You and Mary like to hang out?
- Uh, no--
- WOMAN: You're pals
on social media.
Yeah, well, that's just--
How about you come downtown
and answer a few questions?
You're charging
Bigger with a crime?
Not at all.
Then I don't see any reason
why you need to drag him
downtown for questioning.
No CCTV, so for now
we're believing your story.
So you brought 'em here?
Mary and Jan. Then what?
Yeah. You know, uh,
Jan's her boyfriend, I guess.
Why do you guess?
It's her boyfriend for sure.
- MAN: And they were drinking.
- Uh-huh.
You know, Jan's got a flask
that he's on, uh,
familiar terms with
if y'all get what I'm saying?
( chuckles )
Um, they went to this party
on the Gold Coast.
One of Mary's,
uh, college friends.
What kind of party was it?
Well, I went inside.
You know,
it was so cold outside,
and I could only
keep the car running
for so long, so...
I went inside.
It was pretty lively in there.
- You must've had you a time.
- MAN: Mm-hmm.
Nah, I just stayed by the door.
But Mary and Jan went in.
Yeah, uh-huh.
They was having fun.
You know, uh, smoking
and drinking and...
you know,
probably doin' other stuff.
Jan?
Yeah.
We've been watchin' him
ever since you asked us to.
He's associated
with political groups
in Berkeley,
but hasn't done much here
except run his mouth.
He's a big-time talker.
Politics.
He tried to get you
to join his club
or whatever he calls it?
( grunts )
BIG:
I don't got nothing to do
with that fucking shit.
I mean-- excuse my language,
but politics
just ain't my thing.
Besides, I got
a job anyway, so...
Hmm. Well,
thanks for allowing us
to talk with you.
BIG:
There. Asking me questions.
But they're taking
their cues from Mr. Dalton.
( chatter continues
indistinctly )
BIG: Me acting a good negro
is foolin' 'em.
Even though it's the same act
that they practice every day.
Sporting their badges,
but still got
the slave mentality.
- Just tell us
where the hell she is.
- Look--
I went home that night!
After you took her out
for a good time.
No, I went home by myself.
Look, I didn't go anywhere
near her fucking house, OK?
You wanna stick it
to her dad, don't you?
No, I-- I want a lawyer.
What did you do to her, Jan!
( sighs ) You know,
which part of protect
and serve is this?
( grunts )
Oh, my God!
BIG:
It is a peculiar sensation,
this double consciousness.
This sense of always
looking at oneself
through the eyes of others...
of measure one's soul
by the tape of a world
that looks on
in amused contempt and pity.
( sirens wailing )
Hey.
Hey, yourself.
How'd you get in?
The same way I always do.
What, is that a problem?
No, it's just that, uh,
the movie doesn't start
for another hour or so.
Yeah.
( laughs )
Yeah, uh... ( clears throat )...
I'ma just wait it out.
( chuckles )
You want some popcorn
or somethin'?
- No, I'm good.
- No, Big, I'll get you
some popcorn. No sweat.
( panting )
( sniffles )
I didn't think
you'd come.
You got the cops
around the corner
or somethin'?
You know
I'm not like that,
What happened
to your face?
What do you think?
I know you're innocent.
Whatever happened out there,
it was, uh...
I mean,
it was some kind of accident.
Sure, they're tryin' to say
that, uh...
I raped her
'cause her body's burned.
Mary was, uh...
I didn't, uh...
you know, rape her or...
get with her....
( sniffles )
or any of that.
I know a good lawyer.
- He'll help you.
- It's--
It's too late for that.
And the Daltons, man,
they'll be on your side
- if you just turn yourself in.
- It's too late for that!
( pistols cock )
( panting )
I thought
we were friends.
MAN ON TV:
Let us pray
for the woman lost,
Mary Dalton.
- Unh-unh. Unh-unh.
- And let us pray
for our brother Bigger Thomas.
And why do they say
he's guilty?
Because in their minds,
he was guilty
before he was born.
- ( clippers buzzing )
- He's got black guilt.
There ain't nobody in this city
free of this scourge.
Some of us got black guilt.
- ( crying ) Unh-unh!
- Some of us got white guilt.
Two sides of the same
godforsaken...
two sides of
the same shameful story.
( beads clacking )
- ( Bessie grunts )
- I'm not hungry.
( sighs )
You're gonna
turn yourself in, right?
For what?
- I didn't do nothin'.
- Then tell 'em that.
You can't stay back here
forever.
( TV playing indistinctly )
Yesterday when they came around
askin' about you,
I didn't tell 'em nothin'.
That's good.
That's good.
You shoulda let me cut it.
I'm all right.
You know, you're always
talkin' about wantin'
to get married.
Well, let's do that.
Let's just run away
and get married.
Did you kill her?
You killed her.
No.
I didn't.
But if they catch me,
they'll pin it on me
and they'll twist it up
and make it seem like I did it.
- You want that for me?
- So you gotta tell 'em
that you didn't.
- Tell Mr. Dalton.
- Mr. Dalton...
doesn't want to hear from me.
I don't know what
happened to her.
But what I...
what I do know...
is that I need you.
You're not makin' any sense.
Run away with me.
They'll catch us.
Not if we're smart.
Not if we lay low.
Yeah?
We lay low and...
we hide out...
you know, we just wait
until things blow over.
Then we just go.
All right?
Yeah, OK.
OK.
Now get your coat.
Go on.
Baby, get your coat.
( door opens )
( hinges creak )
( mutters indistinctly )
( sniffles )
Hey. Hey.
Put your coat on.
You'll catch cold.
You got it.
I found a spot.
Where?
It's a good spot.
OK?
Please don't do this
to me, Big.
( sniffling )
I done everything for you
I know how,
but please don't
do this to me.
I don't bother nobody.
I just go to work
and I go to school....
- Hey. Hey.
- Please don't do this
to me.
Hey. Hey. Hey.
Baby, I love you.
I love you.
You gotta trust me.
- OK? Hey.
- ( crying )
Hey.
You gotta trust me, OK?
OK?
You trust me?
OK.
This is a good spot.
( chuckles )
Big.
If you ain't
do nothin' wrong--
Hey. Hey.
I got this.
I got this.
( birds chirping )
( distant siren wails )
Hey.
You sleep all right?
( sighs )
( kiss )
( grunt ) I'm not--
I don't want to.
I can't be with you
right now. I--
I came this far,
and that's all I can do.
Baby, you ain't even
gotta do--
No.
- ( kissing )
- Stop.
Stop. Stop it!
Stop!!!
- ( running away )
- Bessie!
Bessie. Bessie!
Did you kill her?
I--
( expels air )
Gimme that.
Come on, give me the gun.
No. ( whimpers )
( indistinct chatter )
Why you gotta do that?
You gotta turn yourself in, Big.
( panting )
- What you do that for?
- Big.
( muttering )
- Baby. Baby.
- Why would you do that, Bessie?
Baby.
( crying )
Why you do that? Hmm?
Why you do that?
- Why you do that?
- ( Bessie choking )
You're gonna kill me too.
Aaah! ( coughs )
No.
( Bessie crying )
I'm so sorry.
( panting )
I'm so sorry, baby.
Baby, I'm so sorry.
( crying )
I'm so--
Bessie, I'm s--
I'm so sorry.
( cries out )
( footsteps recede )
( siren wails )
I'm so sorry.
( sirens approach )
( sirens continue, louder )
( panting )
( sirens continue )
- ( doors slam )
- ( police radio chatter )
( sniffling )
MALE SINGERS:
Doo doo
Doo doo
( male singers
continue vocalizing )
( female singers vocalize )
( Bessie crying )
( vocalizing continues )
( sniffles )
( female singers
continue vocalizing )
COP:
Stop!
Put your fuckin' hands
in the air!
( vocalizing continues )
Put 'em up!
Put your hands
in the air.
Don't fuckin' do it.
( gunshots )
( cops chattering,
indistinct )
BIG:
In it...
and of it...
and now flyin' high
and above it.
Lookin' down
on the whole earth.
Wish that it was different...
but it ain't.
Not yet.
Not yet.
( instrumental music playing )
( instrumental music
continues )